Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, speaks during a meeting of the Federal National Council in Abu Dhabi, January 22, 2013. REUTERS/Ben Job (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3CSEI

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash made a strong statement against Qatar. On speculations regarding Qatar being the host of World Cup 2022, he said, “Qatar’s hosting of World Cup 2022 should include a repudiation of policies supporting extremism and terrorism. Doha should review is record. Hosting World Cup 2022 should not be tainted by support of extremist individuals [and] orgs/terrorist figures,” he added. “Review of Qatar’s policies a must.”

He said on Twitter, “Qatar should refocus its efforts on changing its policy of supporting extremism and terrorism.”

Last year in June, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain severed diplomatic, trade and travel links with Qatar. Qatar was accused of sponsoring and having ties with a number of hardliner Islamist groups in the region. Following the other nations of the Middle East Egypt also boycotted Qatar later.

The draw for December’s Gulf Nations Cup Last month is to be held in Doha, Qatar. However nations like Saudi, UAE and Bahraini did not turn up for the event. The officials of these nations said that they wanted to delay the tournament.